Chester academics explore psychology behind BBC’s The Traitors
Psychologists from the University of Chester are analysing the latest developments in the fourth series of The Traitors as part of a weekly podcast.
With millions of viewers watching the BBC programme, the university’s psychology team is examining each episode in The Psychology Of…The Traitors podcast.
The podcast is hosted by Dr Kevin Hochard, head of psychology at the University of Chester, alongside forensic psychology lecturer Connor Pell. The pair have discussed the opening three episodes of the new series, including the introduction of the ‘Secret Traitor’ twist and its impact on group dynamics.
In the podcast, they explore how the reduced control experienced by the Traitors may affect how they are perceived by other contestants, and how the added complexity could increase cognitive load for players involved in deception and decision-making.
They also discuss how the current series differs from previous ones, suggesting the missions feel more competitive and less focused on social bonding, and how this may influence relationships between players as the series progresses.
The pair examine the differing analytical approaches taken by contestants from professional backgrounds such as policing, law and psychology, and reference psychological theories including Social Identity Theory and Contact Theory when assessing behaviour in the game.
Dr Hochard said: “We’re thrilled to see how this latest series of The Traitors unfolds and sharing our insights on the podcast every week.”
The Psychology Of…The Traitors podcast is available via the team’s Spotify page.
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